Are bubble baths good for my skin?

Knowing the possible complications involved in taking a bubble bath may leave you wary of ever getting back in the tub. However, your skin is pretty complex, and once you understand how it works, you'll have a better idea of why bubbles can have unintended side effects.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it acts like armor by protecting everything inside your body. Three layers of tissue -- an epidermis, a dermis and a subcutaneous layer of fat -- make up your skin. The top layer, or epidermis, is your first line of defense because it's what comes in contact with the outside world. Your epidermis works to protect the other layers of skin and everything underneath -- but it's not an impenetrable shield. Your epidermis can absorb some of the substances it comes in contact with, and sometimes these substances can pass through your skin and into your bloodstream [source: Snyderman]. This is especially true during prolonged contact -- like when you're spending some quality time soaking in the tub.

Bubble bath may seem harmless, but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued warnings about some bubble baths, which may make you think twice about what your skin is absorbing. Fragrances, dyes and other substances found in many bubble baths can cause irritation to not only the skin, but also to the eyes, ears and urinary tract [source: Household Products Database].

People react to bubble baths in different ways. Keep reading to learn what specific effects bubble baths can have on males.

Why Water Wrinkles Hands and Feet

Although researchers don't know why your fingers and toes look like raisins after they've soaked in water, they do have a theory. It's possible that dead keratin cells in the epidermis -- which are found in large amounts on the hands and feet -- may soak up water and swell. This swelling causes the dead cells to become larger than the living cells to which they're attached. To compensate for this difference in size, your skin wrinkles [source: Library of Congress].